National Fruitcake Month

National Fruitcake Month is observed throughout December and celebrates fruitcake, the dense holiday dessert made with ingredients such as nuts, dried or candied fruits, and spices. Fruitcakes have traditionally been associated with holiday gift-giving, in part because they can have a long shelf life.

Accounts of fruitcake’s beginnings vary. One history traces its earliest ancestor to satura, an ancient Roman bread made with seeds, nuts, raisins, barley mash, and wine. Another account says the fruitcake known today likely developed in western Europe as dried fruits and fruit breads became more common. Later variations included Italy’s panforte, Germany’s powdered-sugar-covered stollen, and other regional fruitcakes. According to Michigan State University Extension, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin even brought fruitcake to the Moon and back.

Fruitcake remains a famously divisive treat—some people look forward to it, while others turn it into the subject of holiday jokes. December offers an opportunity to enjoy its many variations, from loaves filled with cherries, dates, and nuts to fruitcakes flavored with spirits. For recipe ideas, explore CDKitchen’s National Fruitcake Month page.

How to Observe National Fruitcake Month

Celebrate by enjoying a slice of fruitcake or preparing your own variation with dried or candied fruit, nuts, and spices. Try a recipe from CDKitchen’s collection, compare different styles such as stollen and panforte, or share a loaf with friends and family. If fruitcake is not your favorite, use the month to learn about its long and unusual history instead.

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